MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Meeting night
April 21, 2026
2 meetings this evening, 7 recorded votes in all, in the order they were held.
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Start my ballot →7:00 p.m. · Special Committee on Environmental Affairs
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Special Committee on Environmental Affairs: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Leo Choquette, Brian K. Gomes, James Roy
Absent: Ryan J. Pereira
During the meeting:
- Gomes arrived late (7:05)
2 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Written Motion, Councillor Choquette, requesting that Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace of South Coast Neighbors United appear before the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs to present community-based waste solutions for Greater New Bedford. (Matter Id #0429) (Referred – March 26, 2024.)
To remove the matter from the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To remove the matter from the table. (Matter #0429).” (Motion: Roy, second: Choquette)
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Choquette and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #0429).” (Motion: Choquette, second: Roy)
7:30 p.m. · Committee on Appointments and Briefings
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Committee on Appointments and Briefings: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Shawn Oliver, Scott Pemberton, James Roy
Absent: Derek Baptiste, Shane A. Burgo, Ryan J. Pereira
5 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an Application for Renewal of a Private Livery License on behalf of Camille Taylor, d/b/a Ct Live Your Best Life Transportation, INC., 14 Beetle Street, Apt. 1, New Bedford, MA. (Term of License July 01, 2026 - June 30, 2027.) (Matter…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Application for Renewal of a Private Livery License, on behalf of Camille Taylor, d/b/a Ct Live Your Best Life Transportation, INC., 14 Beetle Street, Apt. 1, New Bedford, MA.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPLICATION for RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE, on behalf of Camille Taylor, d/b/a CT LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE TRANSPORTATION, INC., 14 Beetle Street, Apt. 1, New Bedford, MA. (Matter #0293).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Abreu)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Renee Ledbetter, New Bedford, MA, to the Election Commission, replacing Donald Gaudette, Jr., who has resigned; this term will expire April 2027. (Matter Id #0286) (Referred – March 12, 2026.)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of Renee Ledbetter, New Bedford, MA, to the Election Commission, replacing Donald Gaudette, Jr., who has resigned; this term will expire April 2027.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of RENEE LEDBETTER, New Bedford, MA, to the ELECTION COMMISSION, replacing Donald Gaudette, Jr., who has resigned; this term will expire April 2027. (Matter #0286).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Lopes)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of George Bolger, New Bedford, MA, to the Human Rights Commission, replacing Zoe Hansen-Dibello whose term has expired; this term will expire April 2028. (Matter Id #0341) (Referred – March 26, 2026.)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of George Bolger, New Bedford, MA, to the Human Rights Commission, replacing Zoe Hansen-Dibello whose term has expired; this term will expire April 2028.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of GEORGE BOLGER, New Bedford, MA, to the HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, replacing Zoe Hansen-Dibello whose term has expired; this term will expire April 2028. (Matter #0341).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Pemberton)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Zachary Nieder, New Bedford, MA, to the Human Rights Commission, replacing Chad Freitas whose term has expired; this term will expire April 2028. (Matter Id #0342) (Referred – March 26, 2026.)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of Zachary Nieder, New Bedford, MA, to the Human Rights Commission, replacing Chad Freitas whose term has expired; this term will expire April 2028.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of ZACHARY NIEDER, New Bedford, MA, to the HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, replacing Chad Freitas whose term has expired; this term will expire April 2028. (Matter #0342).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Lopes)
Appointments & Briefings Committee April 21, 2026 On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee Voted: To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an Application for a New Private Livery License, on behalf of Celestin Wilkend, d/b/a Cris Transportation, 1 Warwick Street, New Bedford, MA. (License to expire – June 30, 2026.) (Matter Id #0033) (Referred – January 08, 2026.) (February 17, 2026 – t
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the following matters: COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an Application for a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE, on behalf of Celestin Wilkend, d/b/a CRIS TRANSPORTATION, 1 Warwick Street, New Bedford, MA. (License to expire – June 30, 2026.) (Matter ID #0033) (Referred – January 08, 2026.) (February 17, 2026 – tabled) (March 17, 2026 – Remain in Committee) WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Pereira, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings explore the possibility of creating a Special Committee on Automation and Artificial Intelligence. (Matter ID #0487) (Referred – April 11, 2024.) (May 13, 2024 – tabled) WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Pereira and Choquette, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Michele Paul, Director of Environmental Stewardship, to discuss New Bedford's Floodplain Management and explore the possibility of joining FEMA's Community Rating System. (Matter ID #1217) (Referred – July 18, 2024.) (September 30, 2024 – RELATED MOTION requesting that the Administration take immediate action to participate in FEMAs Flood Insurance Community Rating System; tabled for 90 days) (Matter #0033).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Oliver)
From the official minutes kept by the New Bedford City Clerk (agendas and minutes). The minutes are text documents; we read every action, check every roll-call count against the councilors named, and quote the exact wording. Most items pass by voice vote, and the minutes record only the result for those; how each councilor voted is shown only for roll calls. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Councilor photos: cropped from the City of New Bedford's official 2026 City Council photo (newbedford-ma.gov). The 2024–2025 group photo, and the photos of Maria E. Giesta and Linda M. Morad cropped from it: City of New Bedford, provided by the City Clerk.
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